SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—WattStopper has developed PlugCalc as a key component in its Energy Calculator Tool Kit. The tool is available online or as a free downloadable iPad app. PlugCalc enables users to calculate energy savings opportunities as well as return on investment by automatically controlling plugged in office equipment and other plug loads. These loads represent a growing source of electrical consumption in commercial applications, accounting for as much as 20 percent of total energy use in office buildings (data from the Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Building End-Use Consumption Survey). Built on the same user-friendly model as the...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Monarch Bath, Bed & Spa as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. The company offers a unique collection of eco-friendly bathrobes, towels and sheets that allow one to provide a luxurious experience for guests while saving energy, reducing water use and significantly lowering laundry operational costs. Monarch Bath, Bed & Spa, a member of the Green Hotels Association, offers its products in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Embroidery services are also available. A catalog can be found on the company’s website. For more information, e-mail...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has partnered with Green Key Global to offer members a significant discounted fee on the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, a graduated rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels, and resorts that are committed to improving their fiscal and environmental performance. The program is a voluntary, self-administered audit, coupled with on-site inspections to verify a hotel’s rating, and designed to assist a hotel in determining its current environmental footprint. The audit consists of 150 questions divided into five sections: Corporate Environmental Management, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage Operations, Conference & Meeting Facilities, and Engineering....

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL—Phoebus Energy, developer of the Hybrid Water Heating System, launches its expansion into the hotel industry with successful installations at Hagoshrim and Inbal Hotels in Israel. Hotels and resorts consume large amounts of fossil fuel to heat water for showers, space heating and swimming pools. Fossil fuel costs represent a significant percentage of the total energy expenses at hotels and are extremely volatile. The Hybrid Water Heating System packages modern heat pump technology with intelligent Web-based monitoring and control software. The Phoebus Energy solution reduces fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions while significantly reducing energy costs at hotel facilities. “The...

BOURNE, MASS.—Onset, a leading supplier of data loggers, has introduced the HOBO ZW Series, a family of wireless data nodes for centralized monitoring of energy use and environmental conditions in buildings. HOBO ZW Series data nodes reduce the cost and complexity of data collection by measuring, recording and transmitting real-time energy use and environmental data—from dozens of points—to a central PC. Different from traditional data loggers, HOBO data nodes work together in a self-healing wireless network to transmit logged data to a PC at regular intervals. This eliminates the need of having to spend time retrieving collected data from individual...

NIANTIC, CONN.—The Saybrook Point Inn & Spa is one the first properties in Connecticut to be certified for a new program that allows hotels, motels and other lodging owners to market their businesses as “green” in order to protect the environment. Installing the e4 Smart Digital Thermostat with ecoMODE from INNCOM International Inc. played a big role in helping the premiere four diamond waterfront New England inn and spa to achieve “Connecticut Green Lodging—Accommodating You and Our Environment” status. The Connecticut Green Lodging program is a joint effort of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Connecticut Commission...

LAGRANGE, OHIO—West Development Group (WDG), a leader in sustainable roofing products and practices, introduces E-VersiBlock, a high-performance, versatile, and sustainable alternative for mounting commercial rooftop accessories. WDG’s E-VersiBlock rooftop equipment mounting system can be used in a variety of ways to support HVAC unit rails, gas pipes, electrical conduit, and walkways. It can also be used for equipment curbs, solar panel mounting, and structural framing mounts. These units are connectable and offer increased versatility when used with metal framing, pipe clamps, struts, couplings and other attachments. Each E-VersiBlock is designed to allow for two-way drainage that significantly reduces...

DALLAS—Coming to this year’s HITEC 2010, VingCard Elsafe, a global leader in hospitality security, debuts its next generation of wireless solutions, designed to help hotels go green for guests—and contribute to hotels’ environmentally friendly initiatives. Energy expense is the second highest cost for hotels and by changing the way properties consume energy, hoteliers will dramatically increase energy savings and reduce expenses at hotel properties of all sizes. VingCard’s new technology, designed with hoteliers’ and guests’ needs in mind, promises to change the way properties use and save energy. VingCard Elsafe will demonstrate its new product innovation on Tuesday, June...

ATLANTA—Lithonia Lighting, a leader in indoor commercial and architectural lighting, announced that it is fortifying its presence in the LED lighting market with the introduction of RTLED. RTLED is a high-quality, volumetric recessed luminaire that delivers ambient white light throughout an entire space while reducing energy costs, maintenance costs and a building’s environmental footprint. “RTLED is an innovative breakthrough for high-quality LED lighting solutions in commercial interior spaces,” said Dave Ranieri, vice president of Lithonia Lighting Fluorescent/LED Business Unit. “In addition to maintaining high efficacy and excellent color over a 50,000-hour system life, RTLED creates an optimum balance...

LOS ANGELES—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced that at the recent World Travel & Tourism Council Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Beijing, a cooperative agreement was signed for the deployment of the Green Globe Index sustainability assessment program to be implemented by China’s Hotel Purchasing and Supplying Association (HPSA), which is headquartered in Beijing. HPSA is the most renowned and influential trade association in China’s hospitality industry, with 6,000 corporate and individual members from the industry and their supply chains. The Green Globe Index sustainability assessment program will help China hotels and...